A succession of United managers -- Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal -- opted to use Welbeck as a wide forward, with Van Gaal explaining recently that he did not score enough goals.

Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has aimed a barb at former employers Manchester United by suggesting they hampered his development by playing him out of position on the wing.

A succession of United managers -- Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal -- opted to use Welbeck as a wide forward, with Van Gaal explaining recently that he did not score enough goals.

But Welbeck has hit form since his 16 million-pound ($26.6 million, 20.2 million euros) switch to Arsenal and has now scored four goals in five games after his hat-trick against Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday.

"Nobody can really criticise my finishing because they don't really see me playing in a forward position too often," said Welbeck, in comments carried by several British newspapers on Friday.

"But now I am getting into these positions, I want to be sticking the ball in the back of the net. I am sure it's the same with every other striker.

"Obviously people can say I have not scored enough goals, but you stick the best strikers on the wing in a four-man midfield and see if they score goals."

Welbeck's team-mate Aaron Ramsey likened the England striker to Arsenal great Thierry Henry following his hat-trick against Galatasaray, telling talkSPORT radio that one of his goals had been "very Thierry Henry-esque".

Similarly to Welbeck, Henry began his career as a winger before being converted into a prolific centre-forward, but Welbeck said comparisons with the former France international were premature.

"You can't start making comparisons like that," said the 23-year-old. "Obviously Thierry Henry is someone I have looked up to ever since I started playing football."